Japan Press Weekly

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2018 November 28 - December 4 [POLITICS]

Okinawa to hold prefectural referendum over Henoko base project in February 2019

Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny on November 27 announced that a prefectural referendum over the Henoko reclamation work will be held on February 24, 2019. The Abe government is pushing forward with the landfill work to construct a new U.S. base in Henoko.

At a press conference held in the prefectural office building on the day, Tamaki said, “The referendum will take place based on the ordinance related to petitions submitted by residents. This will be a very important opportunity for us, Okinawans, to express our opinions.”

Tamaki noted that some municipalities in the prefecture are showing a reluctance to cooperate. He said, “The prefectural government will sincerely ask for the cooperation of these municipalities so that polling stations will be set up in all municipalities.”

Later on the day, Motoyama Jinshiro, who heads a citizens’ group that carried out a signature collection campaign for a Henoko referendum, held a press conference in the prefectural office building. He said that holding a referendum will contribute to a further maturing of democracy. Noting that in the vote, residents will be asked to think about the future of Okinawa ten or even 100 years from now before making a decision, Motoyama stressed that the referendum will leave a mark in Okinawa’s history of struggle and people’s memories.

Past related articles:
> Ordinance bill for referendum over Henoko base project submitted to Okinawa prefectural assembly [September 21, 2018]
> Okinawans petition prefectural gov’t to hold referendum on US base construction in Henoko [September 6, 2018]